Would Manchester City contemplate selling young full-back Yan Couto to title rivals Arsenal? The two teams have become title rivals during the past two seasons. They battled it out last season for the Premier League title and have done so again this campaign.
A new report from Steve Kay for footballtransfers.com indicates that Arsenal could potentially move for City’s on loan full-back Yan Couto this summer. Furthermore, Kay reports that Arsenal’s chief scout Paulo Xavier has recommended Arsenal consider a move for Couto. Kay also reports that Arsenal is seeking cover for the right-back position this summer. With that in mind, Kay’s report indicates that Yan Couto could potentially become a target for Mikel Arteta’s side.
With City and Arsenal in the midst of a rivalry at the very top of English football, would City contemplate selling a player to their biggest title challenger? The champions did sell Olexander Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to the Gunners in the summer of 2022. While they were shrewd sales by Manchester City, they were made before Arsenal have risen to become a challenger at the top of the Premier League.
Now, a very different scenario is posed by potentially selling a talented young prospect to Arsenal. It may strengthen City’s closest title rival. While Yan Couto hasn’t proven himself in the Premier League, he has become a Brazilian international during his impressive loan spell at Girona this season. A player with that pedigree would no doubt be a boost to Mikel Arteta’s squad. If Arsenal were to offer Manchester City a sizable fee for the Brazilian, they may contemplate selling Couto to their rival. If Arsenal is interested in Couto, it has the potential to be a story to watch for this summer.
There could be another factor at play ahead of any potential Arsenal move for Yan Couto. Pep Guardiola said earlier this season that only small clubs fear selling players to their rivals. Before City’s 4-all draw with Chelsea earlier this season, Guardiola was asked about selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea. He answered: “I think that means you are a small club. Big clubs make decisions for the benefit for all three parties: players, both clubs – and agents sometimes. Really, it’s not a problem. So if they want to go to Chelsea or (Manchester) United or, I don’t know, Liverpool or whatever, what is the problem? They are happy to be there, the club is happy for the transfer.”
Manchester City has shown no fear of selling a player to a rival in the past. But does the fact that Arsenal appear poised to be City’s main rival at the top of the Premier League change that line of thinking? That question may be answered this summer if Arsenal does move for Yan Couto.
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